1 Table of contents 108

Journalist's Guide

Covering the Courts		6
Court Records		6
Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC)		7
Criminal Files		8
Civil Files		9
Juvenile Cases		9
Exhibits		9
Sealed Records/Files		10
Practical Tips for Covering the Courts		10
Government Relations and Public Affairs Division		12
Knowing Your Limits		13
Access to non-governmental places		13
Public Places		13
Crime and Disaster Scenes		13
Private homes		14
Public institutions		15
Restaurants and bars		15
Other private businesses		15
Misrepresentation and Impersonation		15
Misrepresentation		16
Impersonation		16
Receipt of documents		16
Some Practical Newsgathering Tips		17
Obtain consent		17
Seek legal advice		17
Develop a plan		17
The Maryland Shield Law		19
Cameras in Maryland Courtrooms		20
The Maryland State Court System and its Agencies		22
Overview		22
District Court		22
Orphans’ Court		23
Circuit Court		23
Family Division (Circuit Court)		23
Juvenile Court		23
Court of Special Appeals		24
Court of Appeals		25
Judges’ Qualifications and Terms in Office		26
Orphans’ Court		26
District Court		26
Circuit Court		26
Court of Special Appeals/Court of Appeals		26
Commission on Judicial Disabilities		27
Attorney Grievance Commission		27
Maryland Tax Court		27
Office of Administrative Hearings		28
A View from the Bench		29
The Criminal Process		31
Overview		31
The Process		31
The Trial Process		35
Sentencing		36
Appeals		36
Offices of the Maryland State’s Attorneys		38
Overview		38
Office of the Maryland Public Defender		40
Overview		40
Office of the Maryland Attorney General		42
Other specialized units of the Office include:		43
The Office also is the legal adviser to virtually every agency in each of the three branches of state government and can be reached at www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov.		43
Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor		44
Juvenile Court		45
Steps to Resolving a Case in Juvenile Court		46
Special Rules for Juvenile Court		47
Media Guidelines for Covering Juvenile Cases		48
The Civil Process		50
Overview		50
The Complaint		50
The Response		50
Discovery (learning about the other side’s case)		51
Motions		52
Alternative Dispute Resolution/Settlement		53
Trial		53
A Word about Trial Objections		55
Federal Court System		57
United States District Court		57
Office of the United States Attorney		57
Office of the Federal Public Defender		58
Open Meetings Act		59
Maryland Public Information Act		62
Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance		65
The Law of Libel and Invasion of Privacy		67
Elements of Libel		67
Defenses to a Claim for Libel		68
Fair Report Privilege		69
The Fault Standards: Negligence or Actual Malice		69
A Brief Look at Copyright Law		75
Sources of Law		77
Appendix		79
Glossary		95

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